The Battle Of Cerro Gordo: American Victory, Luck Or Skill

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ts, would follow as soon as transport could be arranged. In the mean time, Scott remained in Vera Cruz to settle administrative details, promising to join his army immediately if it should encounter serious resistance.
At the same time, Santa Anna pulled his army together again after the ruinous retreat from Buena Vista. He may have deemed Vera Cruz expendable, but now he knew it was crucial to stop Scott in the lowlands and let disease do the work of musket and cannon. He headed toward Jalapa to join the remnants of his army, already knowing the failing condition of his army. As K. Jack Bauer noted, “The troops were insect-plagued, short of water, and suffering from bronchial and digestive ailments…the men lacked training and many were infected with the notion of Yankee invincibility….” Santa Anna’s troops already had one pointed in the direction of retreat. But how would Santa Anna rebound from Vera Cruz and Buena Vista?
The mountain passes separating Santa Anna from General Scott offered the Mexican commander a broad choice of easily defended terrain where he might be able to block the American advance. He chose a spot 12 miles coast ward from Jalapa where the National Road passed between commanding hills as it began the climb into the highlands. Santa Anna established his headquarters near the sleepy town of Cerro Gordo. From there, he positioned his troops to await the Yankees.
By April 12, Santa Anna's 12,000 troops were entrenching themselves and laying their cannon at the summits of El Telegrafo and neighboring hills. However, as was in the past, Santa Anna’s subordinate commanders questioned his strategy. Lieutenant Colonel D. Manuel Robles, an expert engineer on Santa Anna's staff, objected to the site. He, found Cerro Gordo, “advantageous for harassing the invading enemy…but not the best point to dispute their passage….” It ...